The Washington critic., 1887-07-11
THE OLD NAVAL MONUMENT.

A Keminiscence Recalled by the Re
moval of the Capitol Fish Pond.
Probably the first public memorial
In the form of statuary monument
ever erected in the city Of Washington
was what was called 1.-THE Naval Monu.
ment," erected to commemorate the
officers of the American Navy who fell
In the war with Tripoli In 1904.
From such information rs Is at hand
II appears to have been erected in the
Navy Yard grounds between the dates
of 1905 and 1914, at which latter date
II was an object of British dissertation
and mutilation In connection with the
destruction Of many Of the public build.
ings.
Some years after its dissertation,
probably In 1884 OF 8, 1t was removed
from the Navy. Yard and placed In a
small oval basin or fish pond near the
western entrance to the Capitol and
Immediately between the two wings Of
the staircase. Its appearance in this
locality will no doubt be remembered
by many OF our older citizens, as it was
familiar figure here until 1868 or
thereabouts, when It was removed to
the grounds of the Naval Academy at
Annapolis, Nd, that location being
deemed the most suitable for 1t.
The monument was constructed of
white marble. and consisted of cen.
tral orDamented column forty feet In
height, surmounted by an eagle aud
surrounded at It's base by four EN-.
blematic figures in various attitudes.
One, the Genius of America, was rep.
resented by female figure pointing
her finger to an inscription and picture
of the battle before Tripoli and in.
structing her children, who are stand.
ing beside her. History is represented
by female figure holding tablet and
stylus, recording the passage of events.
Mercury, the swift.winged messenger
of the gods, seems to have been put In
to fill up corner, while Fame, in
angelic form, descends in the clouds,
covering the deeds of her sons with
palms of victory and crowns of glory.
On one side of the shaft was an In
scription detailing the events which
led to Its erection, and on the other the
words: ITO the memory of Sommers
Caldwell, Decatur, Wordsworth, Dor
sey. Israel"
When placed in the ish.pond west
of the Capitol, the column and its at
tendant figures rested by three success.
sive steps upon square marble base,
having ornamented corners and reach.
ing to about the level of the iron fence
which surrounded the basin.
Colonel John S. Williams. in his his.
tory Of the Battle of Bladensburg, says:
One of the least creditable acts committed
by the enemy during his stay In the city, was
stands opposite the west front Of the Capitol,
and which had been erected at the Navy. Yard
by private subscriptions of the officers of the
Navy. In commemoration of their comrades
who fell in the war with Tripoli This ele-
CANT monument of the liberality and gallantry
of our naval heroes has been shamefully de.
faced by the hand. of some barbarian. The
Genius of America has been despolled of It's
finger and thumb, History has been robbed
of her pen, while fame loses her victor's palm
as well as the hand which held II.
From every inquiry It Is possible to make,
there Is no reason to doubt but that 1t was
the deliberate act of some of the British
officers, as several of them were seen to be on
the base of the monument by the nclghbors
around the yard. Page 2G7.
Bohn's handbook of Washington,
published In 1852, has n view of the
western front of the Capitol, which
shows the monument In the fish pond, 4,
and an elevation of the monument also
adorns the outside cover. II would be
interesting to ascertain, through some
one in Annapolis who may be induced
TO see, whether the monument is at
present mutilated as described above
or whether the damage has been re,
paired
The pond in which 1t stood Ia about
TO disappear from public gaze forever,
as the contemplated improvements in
the Capitol terrace, being nearly com.
pleted, leave no place for the well.
known basin. Already the water has
been drawn of, the fish removed to the
grounds of the Insane Asylum in An
acostia, the iron fence removed, and the
work of demolition actually begun,
The younger portion of the community
will miss the pond and its time.honored
fish, who were wont to come at the
watchman's whistle as quickly as dog
at his masters call Il. L. w.